Abstract

Social Stories™ are acknowledged as a very successful way of teaching concepts and social understanding to children with autism spectrum disorders, but considerable skill is needed to write the most effective story. This clear and engaging book introduces ways of thinking about the issues your child finds difficult, and includes 32 stories created by Dr Siobhan Timmins for her son during his early years, with helpful explanations of how she did it, and what the underlying thinking was behind each set of stories.

She explains how the stories build upon each other to help the child to understand further, more complex topics, and how to see the connections so that you can best help your child. From basic skills such as learning to listen, wait and share, to common fears, this book takes the mystery out of creating effective Social Stories™ and amply demonstrates how to put together a cohesive set of stories which your child can understand and relate to.

Carol Gray's Social Stories are known to virtually everyone associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In this new book, Siobhan Timmins, parent of a child with ASD who studied under Carol Gray, helps to further explain Gray's Social Stories as a way of assisting children with ASD to control behaviors and function at a higher level. The book gives a clear, detailed, and thoughtful explanation of the central ideas behind Social Stories and demonstrates how to implement the strategies with wonderful examples and terrific pictures. Anyone interested in the ideas and strategies behind Social Stories will love this clear and in depth elaboration of the theories and practices and the delightful examples of how to implement them.
Gary B. Mesibov, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Emeritus Research Fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
This book is an invaluable contribution to the body of published information and guidance on Carol Gray's Social Stories(TM). Siobhan shares her insightful thinking and information gathering which results in impeccable stories for her son Mark. Her stories and the strategies she uses to ensure true social understanding will be inspirational to all parents and professionals.
Eileen Arnold, former specialist speech and language therapist and co-author of Revealing the Hidden Social Code: Social StoriesTM for People with Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Siobhan Timmins left her work as a paediatrician to help her family navigate the challenges of autism after her middle son was diagnosed aged 2 and she successfully used Social Stories with her son throughout all stages of his development and schooling. Siobhan is now an approved Satellite Trainer in Social Stories™ and offers training in the approach to parents, professionals, and NHS staff. She is also an Associated Specialist at a special school in Essex.
Life can be confusing and overwhelming for a child who has autism. Social StoriesTM provide information, reassurance and guidance not only for the child, but also for parents and teachers. The background to the creation of each Social Story explores a range of aspects of autism, and the rationale and rules for Social StoriesTM. The subsequent text and delightful illustrations are both informative and effective. I am sure, also, that readers will quietly smile, and sometimes laugh, when they read these delightful Stories.
Tony Attwood PhD, clinical psychologist, Minds & Hearts Clinic, Australia, and author of The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome
Siobhan notes her distaste of Social Stories being used to tell the child what they are doing wrong; those stories that she shares with us in the book are all written in fond, positive, tolerant terms as they always should be. Importantly, she tells readers that "Social Stories will not cure your child of autism, nor are they the only useful strategy to implement, but they are effective, enduring and empowering to both parent and child, a powerful partner on your walk with autism and I speak from experience!" ... This book is sensitive, informative and extremely helpful for parents, carers and professionals alike.
Jude Ragan
Autistica